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Unread 11/22/2018, 07:39 AM   #1
five.five-six
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Clear white jelly floating in sump, what is this stuff?

This morning I go to do some water tests and I notice that the return pump section of the sump looks hazy. I had noticed this yesterday but I had some time to deal with it this morning. I have seen haziness before over the years and it was generally some sort of calcium carbonate crust and I would just stir up the surface and it would dissipate.

Not this time, It was a viscous gelatinous film about 1 MM thick. So viscus that I could pick it out with my fingers.


I’ll get a better photo later but yea, it looks exactly like what you think it looks like but it’s a lot thicker





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Originally posted by yellowslayer13:

"I hate that hole"

Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

Last edited by five.five-six; 11/22/2018 at 07:53 AM.
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Unread 11/22/2018, 09:03 AM   #2
mcgyvr
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Bacteria


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Unread 11/22/2018, 09:12 AM   #3
windlasher
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Bacteria
Anything more than just bacteria? Where did it come from? What causes it to clump up like that? What does it mean? Is it bad?


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Unread 11/22/2018, 09:20 AM   #4
five.five-six
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I was prety sure it was bacteria. The reason it grew there is that is the only place in the system where the water is almost stagnant. I kept a sample and I’ll bring it to Steve Garrett and get some photos from him under his microscope.


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Originally posted by yellowslayer13:

"I hate that hole"

Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS
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Unread 11/22/2018, 10:08 AM   #5
mcgyvr
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Yep..stagnant areas like what can form in a suml will absolutely allow bacterial "snot" areas to form..
Bacteria is rarely bad in life...in our tanks it does a ton of beneficial work.


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Unread 11/22/2018, 10:44 AM   #6
five.five-six
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It’s bad when it makes a fish’s eyes pop out if it’s head but other than that it’s is kinda nessisary for not all the animals to be dead.


The odd thing is that about a week ago, I had gotten my nutreant under controll and cut my nopox dosing in half which is counterintuitive to what appears to be a bacteria bloom.


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Originally posted by yellowslayer13:

"I hate that hole"

Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS
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Unread 11/22/2018, 05:39 PM   #7
bertoni
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I agree that it's like a bacterial bloom. If the tank is getting carbon dosing, backing off might help.


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Unread 11/22/2018, 10:07 PM   #8
Jonesrd1
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Actually what you are observing could be a very common response of several dozen different genera and species to (relative to each individual organism) their response to either low nutrients or a reduction of nutrients. Each organism or a consortium produces a polysaccharide(s) that form a thick mucous like material that helps them keep nutrients and extracelular enzymes from escaping. These are very common in the deep sea and are often bioluminescent. I suspect that the rapid reduction of vinegar and ethanol (nopox) caused this response in your system. There are a zillion other possibilities, but this would be my SWAG. Ron


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Unread 11/22/2018, 11:27 PM   #9
five.five-six
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonesrd1 View Post
Actually what you are observing could be a very common response of several dozen different genera and species to (relative to each individual organism) their response to either low nutrients or a reduction of nutrients. Each organism or a consortium produces a polysaccharide(s) that form a thick mucous like material that helps them keep nutrients and extracelular enzymes from escaping. These are very common in the deep sea and are often bioluminescent. I suspect that the rapid reduction of vinegar and ethanol (nopox) caused this response in your system. There are a zillion other possibilities, but this would be my SWAG. Ron
Thanks, I had to lookup S.W.A.G. LOL


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Originally posted by yellowslayer13:

"I hate that hole"

Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS
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